Christianity should not be the basis for our laws or society (says court)

One does not have to be the most observant Christian to recognize where this policy takes us.  These twats on the high court do not deserve to be on the high court, they deserve ignominy.

The precedent for this is more dangerous than pretty much anything else.  Just when I didn't think it possible to go lower ....



Foster parent ban: 'no place’ in the law for Christianity, High Court rules


There is no place in British law for Christian beliefs, despite this country’s long history of religious observance and the traditions of the established Church, two High Court judges said on Monday.

The Telegraph
By Tim Ross, Religious Affairs Editor
28 Feb 2011



Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson made the remarks when ruling on the case of a Christian couple who were told that they could not be foster carers because of their view that homosexuality is wrong.

The judges underlined that, in the case of fostering arrangements at least, the right of homosexuals to equality “should take precedence” over the right of Christians to manifest their beliefs and moral values.

In a ruling with potentially wide-ranging implications, the judges said Britain was a “largely secular”, multi-cultural country in which the laws of the realm “do not include Christianity”.

Campaigners for homosexual rights welcomed the judgment for placing “21st-century decency above 19th-century prejudice”. Christian campaigners claimed that it undermined the position of the Church of England.

The ruling in the case of Owen and Eunice Johns, from Derby, is the latest in a series of judgments in which Christians have been defeated in the courts for breaching equality laws by manifesting their beliefs on homosexuality.

Senior churchmen, including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, recently began a campaign urging Christians to stand up for their rights and have petitioned the Prime Minister to review human rights laws.

In their ruling yesterday, the judges complained that it was not yet “well understood” that British society was largely secular and that the law has no place for Christianity.

“Although historically this country is part of the Christian West, and although it has an established church which is Christian, there have been enormous changes in the social and religious life of our country over the last century,” they said.

It was a “paradox” that society has become simultaneously both increasingly secular and increasingly diverse in religious affiliation, they said.

“We sit as secular judges serving a multicultural community of many faiths. We are sworn (we quote the judicial oath) to 'do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of this realm, without fear or favour, affection or ill will’.”

The judges acknowledged that there was a “tension” in the case of Mr and Mrs Johns between the rights of individuals to maintain their religious beliefs and the rights of homosexual people to live free from discrimination.

However, when fostering regulations were taken into account, “the equality provisions concerning sexual orientation should take precedence” over religious rights, they said.

Andrea Williams, from the Christian Legal Centre, which backed the Johns’s case, said the ruling “undermines the position of the established Church” in England.

The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the former bishop of Rochester, described the judgment as “absurd”. He pointed out the monarch took a coronation oath promising to uphold the laws of God, while Acts of Parliament are passed with the consent of “the Lords Spiritual”, and the Queen’s Speech finishes with a blessing from Almighty God.

“To say that this is a secular country is certainly wrong,” he said.

“However, what really worries me about this spate of judgments is that they leave no room for the conscience of believers of whatever kind. This will exclude Christians, Muslims and Orthodox Jews from whole swaths of public life, including adoption and fostering.”

Speaking personally, Canon Dr Chris Sugden, the executive secretary of Anglican Mainstream, said the judges were wrong to say religion was a matter of private individuals’ beliefs.

“They are treating religion like Richard Dawkins does, as if Christian faith was on a parallel with Melanesian frog worship,” he said.

“The judgment asserts that there is no hierarchy of rights, but itself implies there is one in which the right to practise one’s religion is subordinated to the secular assumptions about equality.”



















stupid people

Multiculturalism has failed: David Cameron meet Angela Merkle

5 February 2011
BBC



State multiculturalism has failed, says David Cameron



David Cameron said Britain had encouraged different cultures to live separate lives



David Cameron has criticised "state multiculturalism" in his first speech as prime minister on radicalisation and the causes of terrorism.

At a security conference in Munich, he argued the UK needed a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to all kinds of extremism.

He also signalled a tougher stance on groups promoting Islamist extremism.

The speech angered some Muslim groups, while others queried its timing amid an English Defence League rally in the UK.

As Mr Cameron outlined his vision, he suggested there would be greater scrutiny of some Muslim groups which get public money but do little to tackle extremism.

Ministers should refuse to share platforms or engage with such groups, which should be denied access to public funds and barred from spreading their message in universities and prisons, he argued.

"Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism," the prime minister said.

Human rights

"Let's properly judge these organisations: Do they believe in universal human rights - including for women and people of other faiths? Do they believe in equality of all before the law? Do they believe in democracy and the right of people to elect their own government? Do they encourage integration or separatism?

"These are the sorts of questions we need to ask. Fail these tests and the presumption should be not to engage with organisations," he added.

It's time the right hand knew what the far-right hand is doing”

The Labour MP for Luton South, Gavin Shuker, asked if it was wise for Mr Cameron to make the speech on the same day the English Defence League staged a major protest.

Luton Labour MEP Richard Howitt, a keynote speaker at the counter-rally to the EDL demo in Luton, added: "The attack on multiculturalism surrenders to the far-right ideology that moderate and fundamentalist ideas cannot be distinguished from each other, and actually undermines respect and co-operation between peoples of different faith.

"The phrase 'muscular liberalism' in particular sadly endorses the climate of threat, fear and violence which is present on the streets of Luton today."

In a joint statement, Luton council and Bedfordshire police said a "tiny handful" of people from various backgrounds had a message of hate, but the majority in Luton lived in harmony and were not "cut off" from each other.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain's assistant secretary general, Dr Faisal Hanjra, described Mr Cameron's speech as "disappointing".

He told Radio 4's Today programme: "We were hoping that with a new government, with a new coalition that there'd be a change in emphasis in terms of counter-terrorism and dealing with the problem at hand.

Bunglawala from Muslims4Uk says Mr Cameron is "firing at the wrong target"

"In terms of the approach to tackling terrorism though it doesn't seem to be particularly new.

"Again it just seems the Muslim community is very much in the spotlight, being treated as part of the problem as opposed to part of the solution."

In the speech, Mr Cameron drew a clear distinction between Islam the religion and what he described as "Islamist extremism" - a political ideology he said attracted people who feel "rootless" within their own countries.

"We need to be clear: Islamist extremism and Islam are not the same thing," he said.

The government is currently reviewing its policy to prevent violent extremism, known as Prevent, which is a key part of its wider counter-terrorism strategy.

A genuinely liberal country "believes in certain values and actively promotes them", Mr Cameron said.

"Freedom of speech. Freedom of worship. Democracy. The rule of law. Equal rights, regardless of race, sex or sexuality.

"It says to its citizens: This is what defines us as a society. To belong here is to believe these things."

He said under the "doctrine of state multiculturalism", different cultures have been encouraged to live separate lives.

'I am a Londoner too'

"We have failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong. We have even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values."

Building a stronger sense of national and local identity holds "the key to achieving true cohesion" by allowing people to say "I am a Muslim, I am a Hindu, I am a Christian, but I am a Londoner... too", he said.

Security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said when Mr Cameron expressed his opposition to extremism, he meant all forms, not just Islamist extremism.

"There's a widespread feeling in the country that we're less united behind values than we need to be," she told Today.

"There are things the government can do to give a lead and encourage participation in society, including all minorities."

But the Islamic Society of Britain's Ajmal Masroor said the prime minister did not appreciate the nature of the problem.

"I think he's confusing a couple of issues: national identity and multiculturalism along with extremism are not connected. Extremism comes about as a result of several other factors," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

Former home secretary David Blunkett said while it was right the government promoted national identity, it had undermined its own policy by threatening to withdraw citizenship lessons from schools.

He accused Education Secretary Michael Gove of threatening to remove the subject from the national curriculum of secondary schools in England at a time "we've never needed it more".

"It's time the right hand knew what the far-right hand is doing," he said.

"In fact, it's time that the government were able to articulate one policy without immediately undermining it with another."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
islamist

Mexico pissed off by the Brits

Mexico complains about BBC show's "offensive" slurs



By Michael Holden
LONDON
Tue Feb 1, 2011 12:54pm EST



(Reuters) - Mexico's ambassador in London has written a furious letter to BBC bosses to complain about "offensive and xenophobic" comments made by presenters of the popular TV motoring show "Top Gear."

Ambassador Eduardo Medina Mora was infuriated by "insults" made by presenters Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May during Sunday's episode of the cult show, which has been sold to television channels around the world.

"Why would you want a Mexican car? Because cars reflect national characteristics don't they?," said Hammond as they discussed the Mexican sports car, the Mastretta.

"Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat."

The trio then described Mexican food as "refried sick" before suggesting Mexicans spent all day asleep.

"That's why we won't get any complaints about this because at the Mexican embassy the ambassador's going to be sitting there with a remote control like this," said Clarkson, pretending to slump in a chair, snoring.

However, the ambassador did complain, demanding the BBC order the presenters to make a public apology.

"The presenters of the program resorted to outrageous, vulgar and inexcusable insults to stir bigoted feelings against the Mexican people, their culture as well as their official representative in the united Kingdom," he wrote.

"These offensive, xenophobic and humiliating remarks serve only to reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuate prejudice against Mexico and its people."

The BBC said in a statement: "We have received a letter from the Mexican Ambassador, and shall respond to him directly."

Top Gear is well-known for its edgy banter and its hosts are no strangers to controversy. Hundreds of viewers complained in 2008 about a joke made by Clarkson about murdering prostitutes.

The program was also rapped by the BBC's independent watchdog for showing the presenters drinking while driving a car in the Arctic.

"Although casual banter is an essential component of the program's appeal, humor never justifies xenophobia," Medina wrote.

"It is not a matter of taste but of basic principles."





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
mexico

NHS: English Health Care

What the woman in the article is a little off on, is a massive entity like the NHS doesn't feel a change in expenditures in a week or month, and the funding for NHS went through December 31, 2010, under budgets set forth by Mr. Brown.  David Cameron has not ruined NHS as his efforts are yet to be felt and I doubt an entity the size of NHS opts to fall apart pre-implementation, just for fun.

Otherwise, the rest of the article about covers it.  Given the two dozen or so other postings about the NHS - none pose any different scenario than this, it is probably a very accurate reflection of the health services in England.




Sickening horror of how health cuts are affecting patient care revealed

by Krissy Storrar, Daily Mirror 22/01/2011


Debbie Pope is so desperately worried about the care her sick dad is receiving she spends all day by his hospital bed.

The 47-year-old former council worker has witnessed some horrific scenes while tending to her father Fred Corbett, 71 – and blames the devastating ConDem cuts for the misery she witnessed on the front line.

After he was admitted to Darent Valley Hospital, in Dartford, Kent at Christmas with a urinary infection, ex-carpenter Fred has lost three stone, his condition has worsened and he has developed an abscess on his spine.

In that time, Debbie, from nearby Northfleet, has seen a terminally-ill cancer patient left in a makeshift bed with no light or TV point, naked dementia patients wandering around and dedicated staff nearing exhaustion. She also said her dad spent a day lying next to two dead bodies.

She said: “It is sickening. Everyone should know what is happening in our hospitals. It is so distressing to see a hospital brought to its knees. My dad and other patients are suffering because the place is overcrowded and the staff are rushed off their feet. Often there is no one to put in drips or change catheters. Dad is in so much pain he often can’t speak. He wrote on his leg ‘help me’ and said he wants to die.

“The promises of the Government can be seen for what they are. It must be happening all over the country.” Darent Valley has been over-stretched since the A&E ward at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup was closed last November. It is also facing making more cutbacks over the next three years.

Mrs Pope added: “I’m very concerned about what is happening to this hospital, the pure lack of staff and the cutbacks.

“One nurse said to me, ‘This hospital is bursting with sick people and not enough help’. We’re heading for more tragedies.”

A hospital spokesman apologised for the presence of dementia patients on the wards and added that one of the deceased bodies stayed on the ward to allow relatives to pay their last respects. The terminally-ill cancer patient has now been moved.





















nhs

Google and Big Brother: Makes CIA and KGB look like children

Google 'will be able to keep tabs on us all'


Alexi Mostrous and Rob Evans
The Guardian, Friday 3 November 2006

The internet will hold so much digital data in five years that it will be possible to find out what an individual was doing at a specific time and place, an expert said yesterday.

Nigel Gilbert, a professor heading a Royal Academy of Engineering study into surveillance, said people would be able to sit down and type into Google "what was a particular individual doing at 2.30 yesterday and would get an answer".

The answer would come from a range of data, for instance video recordings or databanks which store readings from electronic chips. Such chips embedded in people's clothes could track their movements. He told a privacy conference the internet would be capable of holding huge amounts of data very cheaply and patterns of information could be extracted very quickly. "Everything can be recorded for ever," he said.

He was speaking at a conference at which a report commissioned by Richard Thomas, the privacy watchdog, was launched. Mr Thomas has said Britain is "waking up to a surveillance society that is all around us" and that such "pervasive" surveillance is likely to spread.

Sir Stephen Lander, the head of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and former head of MI5, defended surveillance by the government.

"Significant intrusion into the privacy of a small minority is justified to protect the safety and wellbeing of the majority," he said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
privacy

Britain: Coldest since 1910 and Endless Snow.

Coldest December since records began as temperatures plummet to minus 10C bringing travel chaos across Britain


By Daily Mail Reporter
18th December 2010


Swathes of Britain skidded to a halt today as the big freeze returned - grounding flights, closing rail links and leaving traffic at a standstill.

And tonight the nation was braced for another 10in of snow and yet more sub-zero temperatures - with no let-up in the bitterly cold weather for at least a month, forecasters have warned.

The Arctic conditions are set to last through the Christmas and New Year bank holidays and beyond and as temperatures plummeted to -10c (14f) the Met Office said this December was ‘almost certain’ to become the coldest since records began in 1910.

                                                                    Central London

He said: ‘A significant amount of snow will fall over the next 24 hours, particularly across southern England.


‘Further snow showers are likely to hit Wales and the west before moving eastwards on Sunday.

TRANSPORT CHAOS

Air

Belfast International, Belfast City, Inverness, Aberdeen, Norwich, Isle of Man and Exeter airports were all closed today.

Newcastle, Birmingham and Luton airports were experiencing disruption. London City was closed earlier but reopened.

Possibility of disruption at Gatwick and Heathrow over the weekend. Budget airline easyJet has cancelled all its flights in and out of Gatwick airport between 6am and 10am tomorrow.

Roads

Delays on the M1 in Bedfordshire, the A12 in Suffolk, the A5 in Buckinghamshire, the A595 in Cumbria and the A303 in Somerset.

A series of accidents meant tailbacks on the A14 in Cambridgeshire, the M40 in Buckinghamshire, the A20 in Kent and the A12 in Suffolk.

A 50-mile stretch of the A9 in Scotland was blocked by snow and many roads north of the border were in a poor condition.

Rail

All rail routes through York were disrupted today, with Northern Rail having to replace trains with buses between Cattal and York.

Problems at Romford in east London led to morning rush-hour delays to National Express East Anglia train services into London's Liverpool Street station.

Southeastern will be running a contingency timetable tomorrow following difficulties in the Ramsgate and Ashford areas in Kent, while overhead wire problems are causing delays on the c2c London to Tilbury and Southend line.

In Wales, no services were running today between Newport and Hereford and bad road conditions meant that replacement buses could not operate. There was also no service between Holyhead and Bangor.

‘It is going to remain very cold right through to the middle of next week with widespread overnight frosts and ice.

‘Temperatures are likely to drop into the minus teens in places, with towns and cities as cold as -8c (18f).

‘It’s going to stay like this throughout Christmas and New Year, but by the middle of next month things will slowly return to normal and we could perhaps see the beginning of the end.

‘Nevertheless, this December is almost certainly going to become the coldest since records began in 1910.

‘It’s already a lot colder than the previous record which was set in 1981.’

The Met Office tonight issued heavy snow warnings for northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England.

The arrival of yet more snow and ice increased fears that the four million Christmas parcels yet to be delivered would almost certainly grow in number over the coming days.

Simon Veale, director of parcel and carrier management firm Global Freight Solutions, said dealing with the backlog - up to three days in places - was like ‘bailing water out of a sinking ship’.

‘This year, in Scotland and the North East, it is likely Father Christmas won’t be coming,’ he added.

‘There are likely to be more than four million new parcels in the system every day this week on top of several million more which still had to be cleared from the recent extreme weather.

‘If there are additional falls of snow, as the weather forecasts are suggesting, the unhappy situation will be compounded further still.’

The Royal Mail said it was planning to deliver 7,000 rounds on Sunday to around one million addresses.

‘This is already the worst December weather the UK has seen for almost 30 years,’ said managing director Mark Higson.

‘Like other essential services, we have faced major difficulties with items moving in and out of areas most impacted by snow and ice, particularly Scotland and north-east England.

‘We will continue to do everything in our power to deliver as quickly as possible.’

But the AA warned of ‘possibly the worst driving conditions imaginable’ - raising fears that millions of packages and mail would fail to be delivered in time for Christmas.


The AA’s Gavin Hill-Smith said: ‘There are horrendous driving conditions in some parts with driving, drifting snow and bad ice making for possibly the worst driving conditions imaginable, even for experienced drivers.

‘The weather will undoubtedly cause disruption for people heading off for an early Christmas break, if they live in one of the affected areas.’

The breakdown service said it expected to deal with 18,500 call-outs yesterday.

Mr Hill-Smith urged people to adapt their travel plans but added: ‘The trouble is that the closer we get to Christmas, the greater the pressure on people to travel - Christmas shopping, visiting family and friends.’


Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, said the prolonged freeze could also lead to up to 1,000 businesses going bankrupt.

Many shoppers would be forced to stay at home because of treacherous roads, he added.

There are also concerns that heating oil - used by around two million homes, schools and hospitals - are nearing ‘crisis levels’. The Government is said to be considering rationing.

In a further development, the NHS issued an urgent appeal for blood donors as stocks ran low.

Supplies of O negative blood have fallen below ‘preferred levels’, with just 1,928 units left in store (each unit is just under a pint).

Although only 7 per cent of the population are O negative it is a key type that can be given to anybody.

It is the only safe option when a patient’s blood group is unknown or not immediately available and is therefore vital in emergencies and for procedures on unborn babies.

A total of 69 donor sessions were cancelled in one week during the worst of the recent weather in England and North Wales, figures show.

The Local Government Association said councils had plans in place to share grit if the big freeze continued into next month and supplies dwindled.





























weather

Back to the Future with The Independent: Snow is Gone from England

Snowfalls are now just a thing of the past


By Charles Onians
Monday, 20 March 2000
The Independent


Britain's winter ends tomorrow with further indications of a striking environmental change: snow is starting to disappear from our lives.

Britain's winter ends tomorrow with further indications of a striking environmental change: snow is starting to disappear from our lives.

Sledges, snowmen, snowballs and the excitement of waking to find that the stuff has settled outside are all a rapidly diminishing part of Britain's culture, as warmer winters - which scientists are attributing to global climate change - produce not only fewer white Christmases, but fewer white Januaries and Februaries.

The first two months of 2000 were virtually free of significant snowfall in much of lowland Britain, and December brought only moderate snowfall in the South-east. It is the continuation of a trend that has been increasingly visible in the past 15 years: in the south of England, for instance, from 1970 to 1995 snow and sleet fell for an average of 3.7 days, while from 1988 to 1995 the average was 0.7 days. London's last substantial snowfall was in February 1991.

Global warming, the heating of the atmosphere by increased amounts of industrial gases, is now accepted as a reality by the international community. Average temperatures in Britain were nearly 0.6°C higher in the Nineties than in 1960-90, and it is estimated that they will increase by 0.2C every decade over the coming century. Eight of the 10 hottest years on record occurred in the Nineties.

However, the warming is so far manifesting itself more in winters which are less cold than in much hotter summers. According to Dr David Viner, a senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia,within a few years winter snowfall will become "a very rare and exciting event".

"Children just aren't going to know what snow is," he said.

The effects of snow-free winter in Britain are already becoming apparent. This year, for the first time ever, Hamleys, Britain's biggest toyshop, had no sledges on display in its Regent Street store. "It was a bit of a first," a spokesperson said.

Fen skating, once a popular sport on the fields of East Anglia, now takes place on indoor artificial rinks. Malcolm Robinson, of the Fenland Indoor Speed Skating Club in Peterborough, says they have not skated outside since 1997. "As a boy, I can remember being on ice most winters. Now it's few and far between," he said.

Michael Jeacock, a Cambridgeshire local historian, added that a generation was growing up "without experiencing one of the greatest joys and privileges of living in this part of the world - open-air skating".

Warmer winters have significant environmental and economic implications, and a wide range of research indicates that pests and plant diseases, usually killed back by sharp frosts, are likely to flourish. But very little research has been done on the cultural implications of climate change - into the possibility, for example, that our notion of Christmas might have to shift.

Professor Jarich Oosten, an anthropologist at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, says that even if we no longer see snow, it will remain culturally important.

"We don't really have wolves in Europe any more, but they are still an important part of our culture and everyone knows what they look like," he said.

David Parker, at the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research in Berkshire, says ultimately, British children could have only virtual experience of snow. Via the internet, they might wonder at polar scenes - or eventually "feel" virtual cold.

Heavy snow will return occasionally, says Dr Viner, but when it does we will be unprepared. "We're really going to get caught out. Snow will probably cause chaos in 20 years time," he said.

The chances are certainly now stacked against the sortof heavy snowfall in cities that inspired Impressionist painters, such as Sisley, and the 19th century poet laureate Robert Bridges, who wrote in "London Snow" of it, "stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying".

Not any more, it seems.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
snow fall

Pedophiles on Parade in England : Just Don't Hurt Them

The boy will be punished in the hereafter, but not for a mortal sin.  The pedophile will be raped in hell for all eternity by Saddam.  I would help pay for the boy's defense if his case was still going.  Was killing the guy right - the law should have taken action, not dropped the case.

When the law fails and does so knowing the crimes it is ignoring ....

I hope the kid spends 9 years or less.



Teenagers jailed for killing suspected paedophile


A 15-year-old boy who killed a suspected paedophile ''to teach him a lesson'' has been given a life sentence.

12:08PM GMT 17 Nov 2010
The Telegraph


The teenager was told he must serve at least nine years behind bars for the murder of Robert Daley, 45.

A girl aged 15 - who said she had been abused by Mr Daley - was given a six-year sentence for his manslaughter.

The 45-year-old victim was stabbed five times in April at his flat in Brixton, south London, hours after a separate sex abuse case against him was dropped.

His killers, who were both 14 at the time, were convicted last month by an Old Bailey jury, each by a majority of 10-2.

The court heard that the girl, her 16-year-old sister and a woman had complained to police that Mr Daley had abused them.

Only the 16-year-old had been willing to proceed with her allegations, leading to his arrest. But lawyers decided there was a lack of evidence.

It was after a phone call in which Mr Daley rang the 16-year-old and "gloated" that the case had been dropped that the boy - who was the 16-year-old's boyfriend - and the girl went to his home and killed him.

A struggle broke out in his kitchen and he was fatally injured when two of the five knife wounds pierced his heart.

Judge Anthony Morris told the boy: "You saw what you were doing as acting in revenge for what you saw as an insult to your girlfriend."

The killers disposed of the blade, a mobile telephone, and bloodstained clothing, the court heard, and the judge said: "You both showed chilling criminal sophistication for 14-year-olds."

He added that he was prepared to accept that the allegations against Mr Daley were true.

But he said it was "understandable" in the circumstances of the case that the Crown Prosecution Service had dropped the case.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
crime

We have surely lost - Guantanamo Bay

Compensation For Ex-Guantanamo Prisoners


 November 16, 2010
Sky News
Carole Erskine and Miranda Richardson, Sky News Online



Compensation which could total millions of pounds is to be paid out to around a dozen former detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Sky sources say.

The controversial move comes after the Government agreed to settle a series of High Court actions brought by a group of the ex-prisoners.

Some of those thought to be receiving money have accused British security and intelligence officials of colluding in their torture and abuse while they were held abroad.

There are also claims the Government knew they were being illegally transferred there but failed to stop it.

Among those said to be receiving settlements are Binyam Mohamed, Bishar Al Rawi, Jamil El Banna, Richard Belmar, Omar Deghayes, Moazzam Begg and Martin Mubanga.

Most are British citizens or British residents, but some are said to be asylum seekers.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke will make answer an urgent question on the issue in Parliament this afternoon.

This is a very significant and highly controversial move by the Government.

Sky's home affairs correspondent Mark White

Individual payouts of hundreds of thousand of pounds are expected and there are reports one former detainee is in line to receive more than £1m.

Sky News home affairs correspondent Mark White said: "This is a very significant and highly controversial move by the Government.

"Essentially the Government has come to an agreement with a group of former Guantanamo detainees.

"British residents who claim they were unlawfully imprisoned, that the British security services were complicit in their detention and subsequent alleged torture."

The settlement followed negotiations held over the past few weeks at a secret location.

David Cameron authorised the negotiations in July after a court ruling ordering the disclosure of 50,000 confidential documents.

It is thought the Government decided to make the payouts to avoid the expense and embarrassment of the secret intelligence documents being made public.

White said: "They were taking that through the courts. David Cameron was looking for some negotiated settlement in this case."

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said the payments were "not very palatable" but there was "a price to be paid for lawlessness and torture in freedom's name".

"The Government now accepts that torture is never justified and we were all let down - let's learn all the lessons and move on," she said.

Of the former detainees, Binyam Mohamed travelled to Pakistan in 2001 and was sent to Guantanamo in Cuba in 2004 after being subjected to alleged torture by his US captors.

In October 2008, the US government dropped all charges against him and he returned to Britain last year.

Moazzam Begg was arrested on alleged terror offences in Pakistan in 2002 and spent two years at Guantanamo before being released without charge.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
guantanamo bay

Al Qaida: Making Moves Again

The Daily Telegraph
October 30, 2010
By Richard Edwards, Duncan Gardham and Gordon Rayner


MI6 tip-off foils al-Qaeda ink cartridge bomb plot



AN INTERNATIONAL terrorist alert over an al-Qaeda parcel bomb plot was triggered yesterday following the discovery of a package containing explosive material at a British airport.


Police load a parcel removed from a UPS container at East Midlands airport on to a helicopter. It contained a suspicious device, inset

The plot — described as a “credible threat” originating in Yemen — was uncovered by MI6 after a tip-off to one of its officers based in the Middle East.

Last night, airports in the United States were on high alert after parcels containing explosive material, and addressed to synagogues in Chicago, were discovered on cargo aircraft at East Midlands airport and in Dubai.

The “sinister” parcel at East Midlands, which was found in a UPS container, comprised what police described as a “manipulated” computer printer cartridge that was covered in white powder and had wires protruding from it.

The device initially tested negative for traces of explosives but it was understood that a further search uncovered a second suspect package containing a “cleverly hidden” device in a printer, which included a mobile phone as one of its components.

There were reports that up to 20 similar suspect packages had been sent from Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, targeting synagogues in the US.



Last night, President Barack Obama said: “Initial examination of these packages has determined that they do apparently contain explosive material.”

He said the authorities were investigating a “credible terrorist threat” against America.

But while Mr Obama praised the actions of intelligence agents, there were question marks over the response of British police, who missed the explosives during their initial search, carried out by officers from Leicestershire.

It was only after explosives were found in the device discovered in Dubai that the second search uncovered explosives and specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command took over the investigation.

The confusion meant that it was not until 4pm that David Cameron was briefed, more than 12 hours after the initial find and more than 18 hours after Mr Obama had been informed about the threat.

Sources in the US said that the devices had tested positive for PETN, the same explosive as that used by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the al-Qaeda terrorist caught trying to detonate a bomb hidden in his underwear on a flight to Detroit last Christmas.

Significantly, Abdulmutallab said he had been trained in Yemen, and US officials said the Yemeni-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) would be at the top of the list of suspects if any terrorism links were confirmed.

John Brennan, Mr Obama’s national security adviser, said the devices were “intended to do harm” but would not speculate on “how much damage they could do”.

Mr Obama ordered a security clampdown across the US after the discovery of the parcel at East Midlands airport. Aircraft were grounded in Philadelphia and New York to be searched for possible devices, but no others were found.

Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, pinpointed Yemen as a security concern in his first public speech on Thursday. There is particular concern over Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda leader and US national who is based there and uses the internet to broadcast propaganda and terrorist instruction in fluent English.

MI6 is understood to have triggered the security operation after receiving information from a source in Saudi Arabia.

Following the tip-off, Leicestershire police found the package at East Midlands airport at about 3.30am.

US intelligence officials warned last month that terrorists wanted to send chemical and biological materials through the post as part of an attack against the country. It was not until after midnight, that Theresa May, the Home Secretary, confirmed that the package at East Midlands airport did contain explosive material. She said it was not yet clear whether it was a “viable explosive device” but there was nothing to suggest that any location in Britain was being targeted.

She said earlier: “The package originated in Yemen and was addressed to a US destination. We are considering what steps need to be put in place regarding security of freight originating from Yemen. There are currently no direct flights from Yemen to the UK.”

The terrorism alert prompted a frantic search in the US for packages sent from Yemen via UPS and FedEx. Using the tracking numbers of all packages sent in a consignment from Sana’a, which had been split as it made its way to the US, authorities began checking all other possible suspect packages.

Two UPS jets in Philadelphia that had flown in from Germany and France were moved away from terminal buildings. No explosives were found.

The East Midlands plane, which had been allowed to fly on to Newark, New Jersey, was also rechecked before being given the allclear. In Brooklyn, New York, police examined a package from a UPS lorry, but found nothing suspicious.

A spokesman for the Jewish Federation of Chicago said it was alerted early yesterday and had advised local synagogues to take security precautions.

There was a dispute over airline security earlier this week when senior figures in the industry said Britain should stop “kowtowing” to excessive US security demands.

The latest developments will only increase security measures, especially surrounding cargo planes. The threat level in Britain was raised from substantial to “severe” in March partly as a result of an increased threat from Yemen.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
al qaida

Tony Blair makes a point

Tony Blair made at least one significant statement in his memoir.  He may well have written down, for us, many critical and valuable lessons, learned and still to learn.  Who knows, we may find out, if we read it.

What we do know, from excerpts provided by the English press and the Wall Street Journal, is he has made one significant contribution -

To summarize: I profoundly disagree with the statist, so-called Keynesian response to the economic crisis; I believe we should be projecting strength and determination abroad, not weakness or uncertainty; I think now is the moment for more government reform, not less; and I am convinced we have a huge opportunity for engagement with the new emerging and emerged powers in the world, particularly China, if we approach that task with confidence, not fear.

In short, we have become too apologetic, too feeble, too inhibited, too imbued with doubt and too lacking in mission. Our way of life, our values, the things that made us great, remain not simply as a testament to us as nations but as harbingers of human progress. They are not relics of a once powerful politics; they are the living spirit of the optimistic view of human history. All we need to do is to understand that they have to be reapplied to changing circumstances, not relinquished as redundant.

Blair mentions Keynes - a name synonymous with the economy:
Keynes argued for a mixed economy, at least in word, but he argued that private industry was occasionally inefficient and needed government oversight or direction to achieve the action/policy best needed.  He has been a staple since 1936 when FDR picked him up and took off for the races using his program.

Imagine, using the theory of a man who had not written anything substantive, whose ideas had not been tested - and taking a country down that path.

In any case, Keynes also argued for heavy government spending to stimulate whatever lackluster areas of the economy needed a boost. 

Kennedy almost fell for Keynes, but flipped back quickly to a more sane understanding of taxation and spending.

Business/private industry will, more times than not, sort itself out.  Sometimes the sorting out period is painful, but is preferred to government intervention - not so for Keynes, FDR, or Obama (who follows Keynes down this merry road).

Apparently Blair has seen the light.

More government reform:
Blair uses code words, perhaps because he doesn't want to offend, perhaps because he is British.  Reform is more government change, introspection, reform within government of agencies and purpose.  Revise, consolidate, and cut.

It is the next idea I believe profound "we should be projecting strength and determination abroad, not weakness or uncertainty."  This is the state of America today.  Europe has been in this rut for about a century and we see the consequence in nearly every European country - a pathetic assemblage of states afraid of everything, yet emitting bravado with every puff they pronounce, as if they are or should be taken seriously.  This assemblage of states have sold their soul for guilt and remorse, and in the process adopted economic policies they hope will at the very least comfort them while they wallow in their guilt and remorse at colonization and imperialism.  

The very depressing part of this equation is they should feel great guilt for what has transpired, but they should never have allowed that guilt to overwhelm their sense of purpose and mission.  The US today stands at the same point, while Islam is steadfast in its mission and purpose, and is unrelenting in pushing its agenda,

Blair has begun to understand this.  Too late Mr. Blair.  You have contributed to it with the waffling and wavering.  You know the intelligence that existed in 2002-2003 and you know it was more than simply American or Israeli intelligence.  Yet you have allowed the very vocal left dictate your statements on this issue which very nearly invalidates everything else you say.  It is this left wing Mr. Blair, you are striking out against with your statements about Keynes and purpose, yet they will never recognize the message.
























blair

World War II: Equal or Junior

It really isn't an historic blunder.  You were not OUR equal.  In some undertakings you took the lead, in some you were on the front lines, but due to the - very simple numbers - you could not be equal as the US plowed ashore and marched through France and into Berlin, nor through Algeria, nor through the Pacific.




Cameron's historic blunder: Fury as PM says we were 'junior partner' to Americans in 1940




By Tim Shipman, Deputy Political Editor
22nd July 2010
Daily Mail




David Cameron faced a furious backlash yesterday for the astonishing claim that the UK was a 'junior partner' to America in 1940 - a year before the U.S. even entered the war.


The Prime Minister was accused of forgetting the sacrifices made in 1940 by those who fought in the Battle of Britain, the heroes of Dunkirk and the Londoners bombed out of their homes in the Blitz.

Downing Street hastily claimed that Mr Cameron had meant to refer to the 1940s in general. But by then the damage was done.

General Sir Patrick Cordingley, former commander of the Desert Rats, said: 'I am quite sure if Winston Churchill were alive today he would be dismayed.'


Mr Cameron, on his first visit to the U.S. as Prime Minister, made his gaffe in an interview with Sky News.


'I think it's important in life to speak as it is, and the fact is that we are a very effective partner of the U.S., but we are the junior partner,' he said. 'We were the junior partner in 1940 when we were fighting the Nazis.'

In fact, Britain under the leadership of Churchill - one of Mr Cameron's heroes - stood alone in 1940 against Nazi Germany and had far more men under arms than the U.S. until 1944.

While Britain fought on, with some material assistance from the U.S., America did not actually enter the war until December 1941 after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.

And Britain lost a total of 449,800 war dead compared with 418,500 Americans.

Even as Downing Street was trying to repair the damage, the PM's error was compounded in a further interview, recorded earlier, with the American network ABC news.

He said: 'We were the junior partner in 1940 when we were fighting against Hitler; we are the junior partner now. I think you shouldn't pretend to be something you're not.'

Historian Andrew Roberts, author of the recent Second World War history The Storm of War, said: 'The Prime Minister is wrong. He shouldn't wear a hair shirt.


'In the early years of the war Britain had an army of 2.4 million men in the field when the Americans had 240,000 - one tenth of the fighting force.

'It was not really until 1944 that the Americans had more men in the field than the UK, the British Empire and Commonwealth.


'In 1940 there was material help from America, but not belligerency against the Nazis. Britain was the dominant partner in terms of the strategy until at least 1943.'

Labour was quick to leap on Mr Cameron's mistake.

Former defence minister Kevan Jones told the Mail: 'David Cameron is guilty of talking down Britain and disrespecting Second World War veterans who know that Britain was fighting alone against Nazi tyranny while America was still putting its fighting boots on.'

As hostile reaction swept the internet, Mr Cameron's gaffe was greeted with dismay by retired military men.


SAS hero Andy McNab said: 'It's very important to get this history right because people are still living who fought in 1940. There are still survivors of Dunkirk and fighter pilots from the Battle of Britain. For them it is very, very important to recognise the role they played. This is living history.'

General Cordingley said: ' Having just spent the day with some Normandy veterans, I'm surprised that the Prime Minister has forgotten the sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle of Britain and North Africa before the U.S. entered the war and those who were bombed during the Blitz.'

General Sir Mike Jackson, a former head of the Army, said: 'The Prime Minister's history is not as good as it should be. Without doubt we were the superior partner until America's entry into the war. I'm sure the Prime Minister's jet lag is catching up with him.'

















blunder

Justice? Human Rights? Let them wear their own clothing.

What would you figure from a country about to pay a convicted (and admitted) child killer.  Not much.  Now this insanity will make its way to the US.





Police banned from putting suspects in blue boiler suits - because of their human rights


By James Tozer
The Daily Mail
2nd August 2010




Police officers have been banned from ordering suspects held in cells to change into blue boiler suits in case it infringes their human rights.

Instead, they are being encouraged to fetch clean clothes from the suspected criminal's own home so that they can feel more comfortable.

The new rules, introduced by Greater Manchester Police after fears that the garments could be deemed 'oppressive', were exposed by a whistle-blowing chief inspector.

Normally when a suspect is taken into custody, their clothing may be taken away if it is needed for forensic examination, and they are given a blue paper boiler suit instead.

However the force's custody sergeants have been told that detainees must be given the opportunity to wear their own clothes while they await questioning.

If a relative of the suspect cannot bring in an outfit, an officer can be dispatched to pick one up. Failing that, the alleged offender can be given a white tracksuit.

'The blue boiler suits have been banned for some time because of human rights,' said the unnamed chief inspector. ' Giving a detainee the traditional outfit could be deemed offensive, apparently.'

He added: 'It's one thing to treat a suspect appropriately and with dignity but it's another to go out on a limb to give them a cushy experience in custody. It's almost worth being a criminal.'

Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 all suspects have to be dealt with quickly, fairly and 'without oppression' while in custody.

However, individual forces are free to introduce their own 'best practice' rules of procedure.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: 'The blue boiler suits are no longer used by the force and, where possible, arrangements will be made to collect clothes from the homes of suspects.

'This may be family members bringing them in or they may be collected. We are also able to issue white tracksuits. The force is following best practice guidelines.'












stupid

Ban the flip-flops: Medically too costly

The Obama Administration would be wise to ban the flip-flops to save the government (people) money on the national socialized medical system.  Why? 











Injuries caused by flip-flops are costing the NHS an astonishing £40million every year.


By Danny Buckland 29/07/2010

The Daily Mirror



The casual sandals leave up to 200,000 people nursing foot and ankle problems from falls that need medical treatment.

Flip-flops have become a fashion item, with increased everyday use over uneven pavements seeing the huge rise in accidents. Wearers can suffer twisted ankles, stubbed toes, strained calf muscles and sore tendons as the body struggles to cope with their flat shape.

Experts believe regular use can also lead to shin splints and joint problems. So, with more than 15 million regular users in Britain, the cost to the NHS could soar.

Mike O’Neill, of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said “With flip-flops, people land on the outside and roll the foot inwards putting all the pressure on the big toe.

“This constant rolling puts pressure on the ankle joint, causing it to weaken. The lack of support also causes pain in the tendons on the inside of the foot and lower leg.”

Flip-flops are one of the most popular shoes among women, particularly in the summer.














 
 
 
 
 
flipflops

Die Needlessly: What Awaits US

But it can't be the hospital's fault ... they were probably just overworked and understaffed.






Woman dies in 'hell hospital' after going in with just a cough




EXCLUSIVE by Martyn Halle and Adrian Butler 1/08/2010
The Mirror



A mother whose ­­­daughter died at a ­scandal-hit hospital has attacked the care she received – as it was claimed THREE other disabled youngsters have died there needlessly.

Lisa Sharpe, 21, who had severe learning and physical problems, went into ­Basildon Hospital, Essex, with a cough. She could not eat so she had a feeding tube ­inserted.

But staff did not spot she had ­pneumonia and mum Mary, 55, of Billericay, says she was told by a ­consultant: “I don’t know what’s ­happened but she’s got two hours to live.”

Mary claims Lisa was in horrific pain, but was given only paracetamol to help.

She called on the ­hospital trust’s chief executive Alan ­Whittle to resign, ­adding: “Our lives have been ripped apart by this.

"There are no words to describe what it’s like to watch your child die in such a terrible way.”

Lisa’s case emerged after the hospital – where a Health Service ­watchdog reported that 400 people had died ­needlessly in 2008 – was fined £50,000 for letting ­quadriplegic Kyle Flak, 20, choke to death after his head got stuck in bed rails.

There are also questions­ over the death of Tina ­Papalabropoulos, 23, who died after she was ­admitted for a cough which ­became pneumonia, and the death of a fourth disabled youngster.

Beverley Dawkins, of disability charity Mencap, said: “It has taken four tragic deaths for ­Basildon ­Hospital to start taking this seriously.

"The ­treatment Kyle, Tina and Lisa received at the hospital was ­woefully inadequate and ­demonstrates a catalogue of ­failures.”

A Basildon Hospital spokesman said: “We have apologised to the three families for getting it wrong.

“We believe we are making ­improvements. One of the things we have done is appoint a ­disabilities nurse to help in the care of these patients.”











 
 
 
 
 
 
health

When Killers Sue: Mocking Justice and their Victims

The Death Penalty should have been brought back and shame on England for not doing so.


This man should have been dead long ago.






Ian Huntley sues for £100,000: Soham killer claims compensation for being attacked in prison... and final bill to taxpayer could be £1m

By Paul Sims
The Daily Mail
31st July 2010

Soham murderer Ian Huntley should drop his claim for £100,000 compensation after he had his throat slashed by another inmate and be grateful the death penalty was no longer in force, a leading victims' campaigner said today.

Huntley has launched legal proceedings against the prison service for failing in their duty of care towards him after the attack in March this year.

The double child-murderer is almost certain to receive legal aid to fight his case, which could cost the taxpayer over £1million.

He is believed to be seeking £20,000 for his injuries and a further £60,000 in punitive damages as he believes the authorities should have done more to protect him.

Separately to suing the prison, he is expected to claim compensation – thought to be up to £15,000 – through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

Norman Brennan, the founder of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: 'If Huntley had the slightest remorse for the terrible murder of these two girls he would drop the case immediately and get on with serving his sentence, and just be thankful it's not pre-1967 when he may well have been sentenced to the hangman's noose.'

Mr Brennan, 51 and now retired from the police, said inmates convicted of such heinous crimes should forfeit their right to sue.

'Yet again, the true victims in this - the parents of Holly and Jessica - are reminded of their tragic loss as a result of an offender attempting to seek compensation.'

The prison service said today it was ‘vigorously defending’ the claim.

But there is a growing belief that Huntley – serving life for the murders of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002 – will be paid off.

Under the previous government, the then Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he had ‘absolutely no intention of paying Huntley compensation.'

But legal sources estimate that any potential court case could be hugely embarrassing to the authorities.

A source told the Mail: ‘They will try to settle this out of court if they can. They won’t want to fight this out in a public arena with the interest there is in Huntley.

‘For starters it will be incredibly costly to the public purse and a logistical nightmare. Worse still, having endured a public hearing, what happens if they lose? It would be far cheaper to simply pay him off.’

If successful, Huntley could receive a total of £95,000 – nearly ten times the amount paid out to the parents of the former school caretaker’s victims after the murders in Soham, Cambridgeshire.

The families received just £11,000 each from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority because the financial impact of the death of a child is not considered as serious as an injury to an adult.

Huntley was left scarred for life after the attack at high-security Frankland prison in Durham.

He was apparently ambushed by convicted robber Damien Fowkes, who is alleged to have slashed his throat with a razor blade melted into a toothbrush.

The blade missed Huntley’s jugular by only an inch and is believed to have left significant scarring.

Fowkes, 34, a crack addict serving life for a knifepoint robbery, is believed to have pretended to be suicidal in order to get closer to the hospital kitchens – where Huntley was working – in a bid to kill the Soham murderer.

Prison officers smashed their way in to the barricaded room after hearing Huntley’s screams and discovered the killer lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

Fowkes is said to have shouted: ‘He had it coming. I want everybody to know me as the guy who killed Ian Huntley.’

Huntley was immediately taken to hospital and after three hours was released for further treatment in the jail’s medical wing. He has suffered a string of serious assaults from other inmates since his conviction in 2003, despite spending much of his sentence in solitary confinement.

In one incident he was left with serious burns after boiling water was tipped over him.

In another he narrowly escaped being stabbed and was badly beaten. He will claim that because of his high-profile status in prison and previous attacks on him by other inmates he should have been better protected.

Mark Leach, editor of the Prisons Handbook, explained: ‘The court can impose these damages on the basis that this has happened to Huntley before and for whatever reason the prison service hasn’t learnt from it. It becomes punitive, not compensatory.’

Mr Leach said it would be harder for Huntley to succeed in his claim for compensation through the CICA because of a clause that enables them to withhold any pay-out on the basis of the applicant’s character and past crimes.

If Huntley is awarded damages, it is likely he will ask for it to be paid into his prison bank account. From that he will be allowed to draw an extra £50 a month on top of his prison wages to spend as he sees fit.


Huntley arrived at Frankland from Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire in 2008 after a suicide attempt and was immediately assigned a two-man guard whenever he ventured out of his cell.

Just a week before Fowkes’s attack, three prison officers there were stabbed by an inmate wielding a shard of glass and last night, campaigners compared their likely treatment to Huntley’s.

Colin Moses, president of the Prison Officers Association, said: ‘It’s regrettable when anyone is attacked in prison but let’s remember what our soldiers are receiving when they are injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘The prison officers attacked in Frankland a week before will have to fight tooth and nail for any sort of compensation, yet it will almost certainly be served up on a plate for Ian Huntley.’

Juliet Lyon, of the Prison Reform Trust, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The duty of care that prison staff have is a difficult one, but it is to hold people safely and securely, regardless of what they have done.

'The issue of compensation is a much more complicated one, but the issue of safety and security is a bedrock one... If a court sentences someone to custody, they are not sentencing them to be attacked.

'We have to expect that our prisons are going to be safe, secure places.

'If that breaks down, if the staff aren't able to hold that line, it is then up to the individual to pursue any means they are able to.'

Ms Lyon said that notorious inmates often had to be kept separate from other prisoners for their own safety.

'With very high-profile cases, quite often people are held separately,' she said. 'They require a lot of extra supervision, with high numbers of staff if there is any locking or unlocking to be done.

'Undoubtedly, it's a very difficult thing to manage for staff working in an overcrowded system who get eight weeks' basic training. It's a very tall order.

'We have to look to ministers to be absolutely clear with the staff that they expect nothing less than a safe, secure system.'

Last night, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: ‘Ian Huntley is bringing a claim against the Ministry of Justice following an assault by another prisoner.

'The claim is currently being vigorously defended.’












killers

Nanny State 101: Kids on Morning After Pill

I am shocked I tell you, shocked.  NOT.

This is where you go when nothing is off limits and parents play little role, but to pay taxes.  The government takes over, the government is the nanny, and the nanny runs the family.




Shock rise in schools providing morning-after pill


By Anthony Bond
Thursday, 22 July, 2010
East Anglia Daily Times


THE number of schools in Suffolk which can offer the controversial morning-after pill to schoolgirls has dramatically increased in just a year, the EADT has learned.



Of the 33 secondary schools in the NHS Suffolk area, there are now 25 which can provide the emergency contraception to girls - without having to get permission or inform the student’s parents.


This is an increase from just nine in January 2009.

A Freedom of Information request by the EADT to NHS Suffolk also found that in 2009/10, there were 26 occasions when the morning-after pill was dispensed to schoolgirls.



Last night the Suffolk division of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said it was concerned that the family planning message was not getting across to Suffolk’s schoolchildren.



Graham White, secretary of the Suffolk division NUT, said he believed the morning-after pill was needed in some schools. He added: “I am disappointed that the number of schools providing the morning-after pill is as high as that.



“I do not think that the family planning message is getting across in Suffolk because of the fact that there are so many schools now with the morning-after pill. I think it may be that the warning is seen as irrelevant to some pupils and they do not like being given advice. You can only advise and if they choose to ignore it then the morning-after pill needs to be there. If you did not have it then you may start to get into issues with abortion.”



Nurses at schools which allow morning-after pills to be dispensed to schoolgirls are not allowed by law to inform or get permission from the student’s parents - even if the child is under 16.



However, if they feel the student is at risk of harm or being abused then they can report it to the school and social services.



NHS Suffolk would not say which schools provided the morning-after pill or dispensed it on the 26 occasions in 2009/10.



However, it was reported in January 2009 that nine schools in the county provided the emergency contraception. They were Great Cornard Upper School, Stowmarket High School, Orwell and Deben high schools in Felixstowe, East Bergholt High School, Leiston High School, Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge and Stoke Park and Chantry high schools in Ipswich.



Last night a spokesman for Suffolk County Council said schools provide sex and relationships education which teaches the importance of a loving and stable relationship, respect, love and care for family life.



The spokesman added: “Evidence from the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy shows that the biggest impact on reducing teenage conception rates is the co-ordination of both good quality Sex and Relationship Education with access to good quality contraceptive and sexual health services for young people.”

A spokesman for NHS Suffolk added: “A school nursing service, provided by Suffolk Community Healthcare, the provider arm of NHS Suffolk, is available in all secondary schools within the NHS Suffolk area. School nurses may dispense Emergency Hormonal Contraceptives (EHC) where this is permitted by the school. Not all schools allow contraceptives to be dispensed on their premises; according to our information there are eight schools where EHC is not dispensed.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
sex

Get in line - first Europe will falter, stumble, and fall ...

Britain no longer has the cash to defend itself from every threat, says Liam Fox



Britain cannot afford to protect itself against all potential threats to its security, Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, has warned.


By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
22 Jul 2010
The Telegraph



In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Dr Fox said the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger.

Since the Second World War, the nation has maintained a force that can conduct all-out warfare, counter-insurgencies such as in Afghanistan or medium scale campaigns like the Falklands or Sierra Leone.

But Dr Fox has given the strongest signal yet that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities, which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as Nato. “We don’t have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat,” he said. “We just don’t have it.”

The military had to be configured only for “realistic potential future threats”, he said, hinting at a substantial cut to conventional forces such as tanks and fighter aircraft.

“We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from, where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly. The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon,” he added.

Dr Fox’s frank admission also casts doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany. The Defence Secretary has previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point, leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945.

“I would say, what do Challenger tanks in Germany and the costs of maintaining them and the personnel required to train for them, what does that contribute to what’s happening in Afghanistan?” he asked.

The Ministry of Defence is facing a substantial squeeze on resources, with indications that 30,000 servicemen may be sacrificed to meet the Government’s stringent review of departmental budgets.

Dr Fox signalled in a speech at Farnborough air show this week that Britain’s fleets of warships, fighters and armoured vehicles would be reduced because the MoD’s equipment programme was “entirely unaffordable”.

A National Audit Office report on Tuesday also found that the MoD was already £500 million over budget for the current financial year with “insufficient funds to meet planned expenditure”.

There has been growing speculation that the Army could be reduced by a quarter of its strength to 75,000 under the defence review.

But Dr Fox insisted that no troops would be made redundant until the fighting in Afghanistan was over.

“Everything that we might want to do with the Army will be constrained by what’s happening in Afghanistan,” he said.

“Any changes will have to be phased in. But with the Army in particular the difficulties come with how stretched we currently are providing forces in Afghanistan.”

He added: “I did not come into politics to see reductions in the Armed Forces but I also did not come into politics to see the destruction of the economy.”

He described as “nonsense” the idea that the Ministry of Defence would sacrifice personnel before equipment to make savings to a budget shortfall estimated at £36 billion over the next decade.

“I am not planning for any particular size for the Army,” Dr Fox said. “This idea that we are coming at the review with a particular size for the Army or the Navy or the Air Force is nonsense.”

In the last week Dr Fox has been fighting the Treasury to ensure that cash for the replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent comes from outside the MoD’s core budget.

Asked if he would be prepared to resign if he did not get what he wanted, he said: “I am in the middle of complex negotiations and I am not in the business of megaphone diplomacy with the Treasury.

“The country is in an economic crisis, defence cannot be exempted from it.”

Despite the likelihood of a 20 per cent cut to the MoD’s £37 billion annual budget, he insisted that Britain would remain in the “first division” of armed forces alongside America.

“We have to keep sufficient land forces to hold territory if required, we have got to maintain enough maritime power and we have got to maintain air power to maintain air superiority.”

Dr Fox hopes that substantial savings can be found by renegotiating defence contracts. Companies supplying the MoD have been threatened with the loss of lucrative orders unless they lower prices.

“Either companies reduce the costs or we cancel whole projects,” he said. “Either we cut costs or cut programmes. The defence industry will understand that helping us over the short term will give them greater security over the longer term.”

It has been suggested that the Defence Secretary favours the Navy above the other two Services.

But Dr Fox criticised the fleet’s obsession with hi-tech ships such as the Type 45 destroyer, described by BAe Systems, its makers, as the most advanced warship of its kind, or Astute submarines.

“If I had a criticism of the Navy it is that it’s been too centred on a high specification end and not had sufficient platform numbers (ships) in a world that requires presence,” he explained.

He also questioned the number of different transport aircraft required by the RAF. It has a fleet of 36 Hercules, planes, seven C17 Globemasters and about 22 A400M transporters on order.

“Do we have to have all these different fleets or can we reduce them down?” Dr Fox asked.

“Fewer types means less training and fewer spare parts.” He admitted that for a political “hawk” the prospect of reducing the Forces was difficult.

“It is very difficult for someone like me who is a fiscal hawk and hawkish on defence policy to arrive here at a time when the previous government have bankrupted us,” Dr Fox said. “It is really difficult and we will have to make really hard choices.

“Labour have left us with such a car crash that next year the interest on the national debt will be nearly one and half times the defence budget. That is not sustainable.”














military

UK Law: Rape = 8 years

Civilized.  After all, they don't have the death penalty.  So much more civilized and enlightened.






Rapist jailed for eight years


Thursday, 22 July, 2010
East Anglia Daily Times



A MAN has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of raping a woman in Colchester.


Pa Eddy Sanyang, 30, a soldier who was based in Germany, was charged with attacking a woman in her 20s at East Hill on January 19.


He was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court today after being found guilty by a jury.

Investigating officer Dc Rachel Evemy said: “Sanyang was visiting Colchester as a soldier from Germany.

“He got talking to the woman in a bar and when she refused his advances towards her decided he would not take no for an answer.

“As heard during the trial the woman tried to get away from him but he was determined to have sex with her that night.

“She has been extremely courageous throughout the investigation and credit should be paid to her for giving evidence in court.

“I hope now Sanyang has been found guilty she will be able to take steps to move on with her life.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
rape

Read all about it - if they steal less then $20 worth ... don't call the po po.

A M A Z I N G.

Why not broadcast it louder.

Maybe they should simply let them go, with what they took.






Don't report shoplifters if they've stolen goods worth less than £20, police tell retailers


By Chris Brooke
22nd July 2010
The Daily Mail





Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1296836/Dont-report-shoplifters-theyve-stolen-goods-worth-20-police-tell-shoplifters.html#ixzz0uWCDH6NL


Police have told shopkeepers not to report thefts of goods worth less than under £20 in a scheme which they claim will cut crime. Under the trial, retailers are told not to dial 999 if they fall victim to petty shoplifters, but note details in a log book.


It could then be weeks before a community support officer visits to read the log.

Police chiefs claim the policy will reduce thefts in the long term by enabling them to 'build a stronger case' against offenders and impose anti- social behaviour orders to keep them out of shops.

But shopkeepers have criticised the idea as 'diabolical', and believe it will encourage theft and put small shops at risk.

Some family-run businesses already lose up to £200 a week from theft and owners believe the policy will make the problem worse. The indefinite scheme involves all retailers, from corner shops to department stores, in North-East Lincolnshire.

Anthony Bush, owner of the general stores and post office in Killingholme, said: 'It's an absolute joke. You might as well put a sign on the door to say "nick up to £19.99". I wish the police would explain to me how this is going to drive down shoplifting.

'This is people's livelihood we are talking about. I don't care what they are suggesting, if I notice shoplifting I will call the police.'

Makhan Singh Sidhu, owner of a convenience store in Immingham, said: 'We live in a society where there appears to be no real deterrent against thieves, and this is yet another example of this.

'I lose on average about £75 a week in stolen magazines, beer and chocolate bars. It does take its toll on our livelihood.' His son Manraj added: 'It's diabolical. Once people know they can steal stuff for under £20 and the police won't do anything then they will carry on doing it.'

Humberside Police insist the project does not reflect a lack of resources to investigate crime.

A spokesman said: 'We are not saying we won't investigate.

'We are saying rather than pick up the phone every time a Mars bar goes missing, we are taking this to a better level by trying to build a stronger case against offenders.'

He said many thefts were 'over in a matter of seconds' and police were often unable to respond quickly enough to catch the culprits. 'The decision to call police should depend on the incident. If someone was threatening staff, that would be a different situation altogether.'




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
crimes